Families come to ‘Walk + Roll Fair’

Here’s why many parents and kids were riding their bikes and walking to this Lents neighborhood elementary school, not long ago …

Kids learning how to bicycle safely in the “bike rodeo” is one of the goals of this Walk + Roll Fair.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

It moves from neighborhood to neighborhood; but this year, the annual Walk + Roll Fair came to Kelly Elementary School in Lents.

During the four-hour fair, kids took in a “Bike Rodeo”, got free minor bike repair, helped with route planning, and shopped at a $6 bike helmet sale put on by Trauma Nurses Talk Tough.

City of Portland Bureau of Transportation Safe Routes to School organizer Janis McDonald spends a moment with event partner Ana Mendoza, of Ando Nen Bicicletas en Culley.

“We hold this event to support kids walking and bicycling to school,” remarked the event’s planner, City of Portland Bureau of Transportation Safe Routes to School organizer Janis McDonald.

“It’s important to teach kids about health and safety, and help them have bike-riding skills,” McDonald told East Portland News.

Safe Routes to School’s Abra McNair helps participants map out safe routes to bike-ride and walk.

Hannah Williams, from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, encourages Jazmine, Noble, and Muhammad Rahram to “Fire up your Feet”.

“It’s also about helping to build community,” McDonald added. “In a broader view, for Safe Routes to School, we are encouraging active transportation. Also, the month of May is Bike to School Challenge Month.”

Best part best part for her personally, McDonald concluded, is seeing the kids riding with smiles on their faces.

Learn more about Safe Routes to School: CLICK HERE.

Dylan Peernboom, of the nonprofit all-volunteer-run collective Bike Farm, tightens up the brake cables during a safety check on a bicycle at the fair.

On our Front Page: Abby Lotz helps Eleanor Hively learn to “roll along”.

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